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Fire board recall candidate Jodi Kesten says that information on the recall committee website about her experience with the Long Beach Fire Department and work history in Evergreen is valid, and independent checks confirm several of those resume entries.

Members of the no-recall committee have questioned Kesten’s credentials as a volunteer firefighter and her past employment with the Life Care Center and the Seniors’ Resource Center in Evergreen.

Returning to a simpler time when people grew the food they ate is a dream of those involved in community gardening efforts.

During his presentation, Rusty Collins, Denver director for the Colorado State University Extension Service, said that only 1 percent of the food consumed in the state is grown locally. Shifting that percentage to 20 by the year 2020 is a goal of his organization, he said.

“Urban agriculture is a whole lot more than chickens,” Collins told a group at the Evergreen Fire/Rescue auditorium on Sunday.

Fire board recall candidate Jodi Kesten says that information on the recall committee website about her experience with the Long Beach Fire Department and work history in Evergreen is valid, and independent checks confirm several of those resume entries.

Members of the no-recall committee have questioned Kesten’s credentials as a volunteer firefighter and her past employment with the Life Care Center and the Seniors’ Resource Center in Evergreen.

Facing Evergreen Fire/Rescue staff and firefighters, the four challengers in the fire board recall election fielded questions about their intentions and qualifications at their April 3 forum.
Candidates Dan Koller, Paul Peil, Jodi Kesten and Barry Pier held the event at Evergreen High School to present their views on issues related to the recall campaign of four Evergreen Fire Protection District board members. The school auditorium was filled with residents who challenged the candidates with questions written on index cards, which moderator Jim Sherwood read to them.

A small group of protesters with a one-man band and a bugler gathered March 26 in front of the Jeffco government building to protest what they see as the unethical behavior of former county commissioner John Odom.

After losing the District 2 seat in last November’s election to Democrat Casey Tighe, Odom stopped attending meetings. Starting after the Nov. 15 regular meeting of the commission, Odom missed up to six meetings.

This year’s Winter Festival at Evergreen Lake brought record-setting attendance but somewhat disappointing revenues, according to a review by Evergreen Park and Recreation District staff.

“By all accounts, the second community event could be considered a success,” EPRD Executive Director Scott Robson said during his presentation to the park district board on March 26. “We had some fantastic state and national support … a lot of positive energy to build on.”

Evergreen resident Kenny Erhardt is among a group of retired volunteer firefighters heading back into service for Evergreen Fire/Rescue.

Erhardt will be using his skills as an auto mechanic and trainer to teach active firefighters how to extricate people from vehicles. He and other volunteers will also be hauling water to fires on tenders as auxiliary drivers.

“As our open spaces continue to be more and more used, I think it’s important to have an adopted set of rules and regulations,” said Scott Robson, executive director of the Evergreen Park and Recreation District.

Among the proposed rules and conduct codes that Robson presented to the EPRD board on March 26 was one prohibiting weapons — with one exception. According the park rules list, all firearms and other weapons will be prohibited on EPRD-managed lands, except for concealed handguns for which individuals have permits.